YOjW\ 


South  Japan  Mission 


X 


REFORMED  CHURCH  IN  AMERICA 

NEW  YORK 

1899 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/sketchofsouthjapOOrefo 


REV  GUIDO  F.  VERBECK. 


SKETCH 


OF  THE 


South  Japan  Mission 


REVISED  AND  ENLARGED 


Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  R.  C.  A. 
25  EAST  22D  STREET,  NEW  YORK. 
1899. 


THE  SOUTH  JAPAN  MISSION  OF  THE  REFORMED 
CHURCH  IN  AMERICA. 


Nagasaki  may  be  called  the  birthplace  of  Protestant  mis- 
sions in  Japan.  It  was  here  that  the  idea  of  missions  to  the 
Japanese  first  assumed  practical  form;  from  here  the  call  for 
missionaries  was  sent;  and  here  the  first  missionaries  came. 
The  facts  are  these: 


Not  long  after  the  opening  of  the  country  by 
treaty,  Dr.  S.  Wells  Williams  and  the  Rev.  E.  W. 
Syle,  missionaries  to  China,  the  former  of  the 


The  Way 
Prepared. 


American  Board  and  the  latter  of  the  Board  of  the  American 
Episcopal  Church,  came  on  a visit  to  Nagasaki.  They  made 
the  acquaintance  of  the  officers  of  the  U.  S.  S.  “Powhatan,” 
then  in  port,  and  were  one  day  invited  to  join  a party 
including  the  chaplain,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wood,  in  making 
a call  upon  the  governor  of  the  city.  In  the  conversation 
the  governor  took  occasion  to  say  that,  as  the  country  was 
now  open  to  trade,  the  people  would  be  glad  of  anything 
the  foreigners  had  to  bring  them,  except  two  things,  opium 
and  Christianity.  This  remark  naturally  became  a subject  of 
thought  and  discussion  by  these  three  Christian  men.  It  was 
evident  to  them  that  the  governor’s  ideas  of  Christianity, 
which  led  him  to  consider  it  an  evil  on  a par  with  opium,  had 
been  derived  from  the  history  of  a false  form  of  the  faith  in 
his  own  country  in  former  times.  They,  therefore,  decided  to 
make  an  effort  to  have  true  Christianity  introduced,  and 
agreed  to  write  letters  to  the  Boards  of  the  Episcopal,  Presby- 
terian and  Reformed  Churches  in  America,  urging  the  sending 
of  missionaries  to  Japan.  In  response  to  these  letters,  mis- 
sions were  established  by  these  three  churches.  The  Episcopal 
Church  fias  the  honor  of  being  the  first  to  occupy  the  field. 
Two  men  were  located  at  Nagasaki  in  the  summer  of  1859. 
The  mission  of  the  Reformed  Church  was  established  in  the 
same  place  a few  months  later  by  the  Rev.  G.  F Verbeck. 


6 


The  SouTn  Japan  Mission. 


The  history  of  this  branch  of  the  mission  for  the  next  ten 
years,  is  entirely  that  connected  with  the  personal  experiences 
of  its  founder.  In  a reply  to  a request  for  information  con- 
cerning this  period,  he  wrote  as  follows: 

“I  left  New  York  on  the  5th  of  May,  1859,  in 
lfS  en  the  company  of  Dr.  S.  II.  Brown  and  Dr.  D.  B. 
Years.  Simmons,  all  of  our  mission,  together  with  our 

families.  I arrived  at  Nagasaki  on  the  7th  of  November, 
1859,  and  my  wife,  whom  I was  obliged  to  leave  for  a time  in 
Shanghai,  on  December  31st  of  the  same  year. 

“We  found  the  natives  not  at  all  accessible  touching  reli- 
gious matters.  When  such  a subject  was  mooted  in  the  pres- 
ence of  a native,  his  hand  would  almost  involuntarily  be 
applied  edgewise  to  his  throat,  to  indicate  the  extreme  peril- 
ousness of  such  a discussion.  If,  on  such  an  occasion,  more 
than  one  native  happened  to  be  present,  the  natural  shyness 
was,  if  possible,  still  more  apparent,  for  there  was  little  con- 
fidence between  man  and  man,  chiefly  on  account  of  the  abom- 
inable secret  spy  system,  which  we  found  in  full  swing  when 
we  first  arrived  and  for  several  years  after.  It  was  evident 
that  before  we  could  hope  to  accomplish  anything  in  our  ap- 
propriate work  two  things  were  essential;  we  had  to  gain  the 
general  confidence  of  the  people  and  we  had  to  master  the 
native  tongue. 

“ As  to  the  first,  by  the  most  knowing  and  suspicious,  we 
were  regarded  as  people  that  had  come  to  seduce  the  masses 
from  their  fealty  to  the  ‘god  country,’  and  to  corrupt  their 
morals  generally.  These  gross  misconceptions  we  had  to 
endeavor  to  dispel  by  invariable  kindness  and  generosity,  by 
showing  that  we  had  come  to  do  good  to  them  only  and  on  all 
occasions  of  our  intercourse,  whether  we  met  in  friendship,  on 
business,  on  duty  or  otherwise;  a very  simple  Christian  duty 


this ! 

“As  to  the  other  pre-requisite  to  successful  work,  we  were 
in  many  respects  not  favorably  situated,  and  our  progress  was 
correspondingly  slow.  We  had  none,  or  hardly  any,  of  the 
helps  for  studying  the  language  that  have  been  so  abundantly 
furnished  to  those  who  arrived  at  later  dates.  The  discovery 
of  a new  part  of  speech,  or  of  a new  construction,  seemed  to  us 


The  South  Japan  Mission. 


7 


often  like  the  discovery  of  a new  land  and  often  was  the  source 
of  great  joy. 

“As  to  myself,  I may  say  that,  as  an  auxiliary  in  my  en- 
deavors to  secure  the  above  two  requisites,  I early  commenced 
to  give  gratuitous  instruction  at  my  home  in  the  English  lan- 
guage, and  various  other  useful  branches.  This  course,  under 
Providence,  led  to  my  being  early  identified  with  educational 
matters,  and  did  much  to  give  shape  and  color  to  my  career  in 
this  country. 

“As  to  baptisms,  a full  account  of  them  was  first  given  in 
Mrs.  Sangster’s  ‘ Manual  of  the  Missions  of  the  Reformed 
Church  in  America,’  published  by  the  Woman’s  Board  in  1887 
This  is  an  account  of  the  first  two  baptisms.  The  only  other 
case  at  Nagasaki,  in  my  time,  was  that  of  the  priest  Shimidzu 
in  1868.” 

Remarkable  year  1854  an  English  fleet  of  war  came 

into  the  harbor  of  Nagasaki.  This  wTas  before 
Conversion.  any  treaty  with  England,  and  such  an  event 
created  great  excitement.  A large  force  of  troops  was  gathered 
to  watch  the  vessels  and  prevent  any  trade  or  intercourse  with 
the  people.  The  commander-in-chief  was  named  Wakasa,  and 
he  was  accustomed  to  go  out  in  a boat  to  see  that  all  was  right 
and  that  no  secret  communication  was  attempted. 

On  one  of  these  excursions  he  discovered  in  the  water  a 
small  pocket  Testament,  which  was  quite  unlike  any  book  he 
had  ever  seen,  and  he  was  very  anxious  to  know  its  contents. 
After  considerable  inquiry,  he  learned  from  some  Dutch  in- 
terpreter that  it  told  about  God  and  Jesus  Christ.  This  only 
increased  his  curiosity  to  understand  it  all;  and  having  heard 
there  was  a translation  in  China,  he  sent  to  Shanghai  and  pro- 
cured a copy.  Having  returned  to  his  home  at  Saga  he  began 
the  study  of  the  Testament,  and  induced  four  others  to  join 
him.  One  of  these  was  a brother  named  Ayabe,  and  another 
a relative  named  Molino. 

In  the  autumn  of  1862  Ayabe  came  to  Nagasaki  for  further 
instruction,  and  was  taught  by  Rev.  Dr.  Yerbeck.  During 
the  following  spring,  this  man  came  to  Dr.  Yerbeck  at  night 
and  warned  him  of  danger  to  himself  and  family  if  they  did 
not  leave  at  once.  It  is  probable  that  this  caution  saved  their 


The  South  Japan  Mission. 


lives,  as  they  fled  to  China  and  remained  there  until  the  serious 
troubles  which  followed  were  ended. 

When  Dr.  Yerbeck  returned  he  found  that  Ayabe  had  re- 
ceived some  government  appointment  which  removed  him  from 
Nagasaki,  and  it  seemed  that  all  his  labors  and  prayers  were 
to  be  in  vain.  But  not  long  after,  Wakasa  sent  Molino  (who 
had  learned  to  read  English)  with  instructions  to  read  over  and 
get  explanations  of  such  portions  of  the  Scriptures  as  they 
could  not  understand,  and  he  was  also  to  procure  any  books 
that  would  be  helpful  in  their  efforts  to  know  the  word  of  God. 
In  this  manner  the  Bible  class  was  carried  on  for  nearly  three 
years,  the  faithful  messenger  making  the  two  days’  journey 
to  Nagasaki  and  returning  in  due  time  with  the  desired 
knowledge. 

On  the  14th  of  May,  1866,  a messenger  came  to  Dr.  Yerbeck 
and  announced  that  some  high  officials  from  the  province  of 
Hizen  had  arrived  and  desired  him  to  appoint  a day  and  hour 
for  an  interview.  To  his  great  joy  and  surprise  these  men 
proved  to  be  Wakasa  with  his  brother  and  Molino. 

At  the  time  appointed  Wakasa  and  his  train  appeared.  He 
was  then  one  of  the  ministers  of  state  or  governors  of  the  pro- 
vince. In  appearance  lie  was  tall  and  dignified,  with  a most 
pleasing  expression.  He  said  to  Dr.  Yerbeck,  “ I have  long 
known  you  in  my  mind,  and  desired  to  converse  with  you,  and 
I am  very  happy  that,  in  God’s  providence,  I am  at  last  per- 
mitted this  privilege.”  Two  of  his  sons  were  with  him. 

These  men  had  evidently  received  the  word  with  all  readi- 
ness of  mind,  and  now  sought  only  for  some  additional  light 
in  reference  to  Christian  character  and  customs.  In  the  course 
of  their  conversation.  Wakasa  said:  “Sir,  I cannot  tell  you 
my  feelings  when  for  the  first  time  I read  the  account  of  the 
character  and  work  of  Jesus  Christ.  I had  never  seen,  or 
heard,  or  imagined  such  a person.  I was  filled  with  admira- 
tion, overwhelmed  with  emotion,  and  taken  captive  by  the 
record  of  his  nature  and  life.”  He  showed  great  familiarity 
with  the  Bible,  made  several  pertinent  quotations,  and  was 
prepared  to  believe  all  that  Jesus  said  and  to  do  whatever  he 
required. 


Tiik  South  .Japan  Mission. 


9 


After  a long  conversation  on  the  power  and 
love  of  Christ,  Dr.  Verbeck  was  taken  quite  by 
Baptisms.  surprise  by  the  request  from  Wakasa  that  he 
and  his  brother  should  be  baptized.  It  was  well  known 
that  such  an  act  would  be  attended  with  great  peril,  as  the 
law  of  the  land  strictly  prohibited  the  Christian  religion. 
Molino  also  wished  for  baptism.  Dr.  Verbeck  warned  them 
not  to  entertain  any  superstitious  notions  in  regard  to  the 
efficacy  and  importance  of  baptism,  and  told  them  of  the 
sacred  obligations  of  those  who  received  it.  After  explaining 
the  form,  they  were  asked  to  decide,  as  in  the  presence  of 
God.  Without  hesitation  the  request  was  repeated,  with 
the  sinjple  provision  that  it  should  not  be  made  public,  as  it 
would  not  only  endanger  their  own  lives,  but  their  families’ 
also.  Further  examination  showed  that  their  experience  had 
been  thorough.  They  felt  their  sins  to  be  great  and  realized 
the  need  of  a saviour.  Recognizing  the  insufficiency  of  all 
other  systems,  they  joyfully  received  Christ  as  their  hope  for 
time  and  for  eternity. 

The  following  Sabbath  evening  was  appointed  for  the  cere- 
mony, and  at  the  appointed  hour  the  three  men  appeared. 
Their  retainers  had  been  dismissed  with  orders  to  return  in  an 
hour.  The  shutters  were  closed,  and  after  some  words  of  ex- 
hortation they  were  baptized  and  partook  of  the  sacrament. 
“Now,”  said  Wakasa  I have  that  which  I have  long  been 
heartily  wishing  for.”  He  then  told  the  story  of  the  book 
found  twelve  years  before  in  the  harbor  of  Nagasaki,  and  all 
that  it  had  led  to.  Wakasa  returned  home  (like  the  eunuch 
who  had  met  Philip)  rejoicing  in  the  love  of  God  and  presence 
of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Dr.  Verbeck  removed  to  Tokyo,  and  the 
account  sent  to  America  was  carefully  preserved  and  for  a 
long  time  was  known  to  but  few. 

Mr.  Verbeck  taught  for  several  years  in  a school  established 
under  the  patronage  of  the  governor  of  Nagasaki,  primarily 
for  training  young  men  to  become  interpreters  in  government 
offices,  and  for  a short  time  also  in  a school  established  for 
giving  a more  liberal  education,  by  the  daimyo  of  Hizen. 
Early  in  1869,  he  was  called  to  Tokyo  to  assist  in  organizing  a 
school  for  the  study  of  Western  languages  and  the  sciences, 


10 


Tiie  South  Japan  Mission. 


'which  later  grew  into  the  Imperial  University.  For  this 

purpose  he  left  Nagasaki  in  March  the  same  year. 

T7  , T , The  Rev.  Henry  Stout  and  wife  arrived  in 

Larly  Labors  „.  , . , , „ , , 

Nagasaki  ten  days  before  the  departure  of  Mr. 

o r.  an  Yerbeck  and  family.  It  was  arranged  that  the 

Mrs.  Stout.  p]ace  to  be  vacated  in  the  schools  be  taken 
by  the  new  missionary.  The  Hizen  school  was  soon  trans- 
ferred to  Tokyo  as  had  been  previously  planned.  The  ar- 
rangement with  the  city  school  continued  for  three  years  and 

a half.  During  this 
time  opportunities 
were  not  entirely 
wanting  to  do  some 
real  mission  work,  es- 
pecially with  pupils 
living  in  the  house 
with  their  teacher,  or 
even  occasionally 
with  others  in  the 
school  who  were  his 
intimate  friends  and 
could  be  induced  to 
come  quietly  on  Sun- 
days for  Bible  study. 
But  a great  deal  of 
the  same  sort  of  tim- 
idity which  Mr.  Ver- 
b e c k had  found 


REV  HENRY  STOUT,  D.D. 


among  the  people  was  still  manifested.  This  was  especially 
marked  after  the  persecution  of  1870,  in  which  about  four 
thousand  Roman  Catholic  Christians,  descendents  of  the 
converts  of  former  times,  living  in  villages  near  Nagasaki, 
were  suddenly  arrested  and  deported  to  different  parts  of  the 
country.  At  the  same  time,  also,  two  Protestants,  one  “the 
priest  Shimidzu  ” before  referred  to,  were  arrested  and  thrown 
into  prison.  Gradually,  however,  the  reserve  gave  way  in 
great  measure,  and  in  1872  the  time  seemed  favorable  for  be- 
ginning more  direct  and  active  mission  work.  The  position 
in  the  school  was,  therefore,  resigned. 


Tiie  South  Japan  Mission. 


11 


Still,  instruction  in  English  appeared  to  be  the  means  by 
which  the  beginning  must  be  made.  The  first  step  taken  was 
to  gather  an  evening  class  of  young  men  at  the  mission  home, 
with  the  Bible  as  the  principal  text  book.  Soon  as  many  as 
could  be  accommodated  were  in  regular  attendance. 

In  connection  with  teaching,  both  in  the  government  school 
and  in  the  private  class,  opportunities  frequently  offered  to 
present  the  subject  of  female  education.  And  not  long  after 
the  class  for  boys  was  well  under  way,  some  persons  who  had 
been  friendly  for  a long  time,  came  and  asked  that  Mrs.  Stout 
teach  a class  of  girls,  giving  special  attention  to  sewing,  knit- 
ting, etc.  This  she  undertook  to  do  in  the  afternoon,  also  at 
the  mission  home.  These  classes  were  visited  and  met  with 
such  favor  that,  not  long  after  their  organization,  a number  of 
men  united  in  a request  for  establishing  a joint  school  in  the 
city  at  their  expense  for  rent  and  incidentals.  The  agreement 
was  that,  as  the  teachers’  time  would  be  given  gratuitously, 
the  instruction  should  be  entirely  at  their  option.  However, 
it  was  understood  that  for  the  time  being  the  religious  instruc- 
tion should  be  given  at  the  teachers’  residence.  In  a short 
time  a school  of  about  fifty  girls  and  thirty  boys  and  young 
men  was  in  successful  operation. 

Early  in  1873,  the  edicts  against  Christianity  were  removed, 
and  the  time  seemed  now  ripe  for  more  open  Christian 
teaching.  After  a time  the  Bible  wai  introduced  into  the 
school,  as  a voluntary  study.  The  result  of  this  was,  first, 
a remonstrance  to  the  teachers,  and  then  intimidation  toward 
those  of  the  pupils  who  had  engaged  in  Bible  study.  When 
both  were  found  to  be  ineffectual,  the  school  was  summarily 
closed.  However,  there  is  good  reason  to  believe  that  those 
who  had  the  school  immediately  in  charge  cared  little  about 
the  study  of  the  Bible.  But  the  fact  of  its  having  been  intro- 
duced into  the  school  had  been  noised  abroad,  and  there  was 
great  excitement  over  it.  Such  pressure  was  brought  to  bear 
upon  these  men,  that  there  was  nothing  for  them  to  do  but 
yield  to  public  clamor. 

A few  days  after  the  closing  of  the  school,  a number  of 
those  who  had  been  in  either  department,  came  begging  to  be 
taught  again  as  at  the  first.  And  so  the  classes  went  on  as 


CHAPEL  AT  NAGASAKI, 


Tiie  South  Japan  Mission. 


13 


formerly,  with  the  best  elements  of  what  had  constituted  the 
school  in  the  city. 

Urgent  requests  were  sent  to  the  Board  for  aid  in  carrying 
on  the  work  thus  opening  up,  especially  that  for  women.  The 
class  for  girls  was  continued,  in  hope  that  help  would  be  sent, 
till  the  summer  of  the  following  year,  when  Mrs.  Stout’s 
health  became  such  that  she  was  obliged  to  dismiss  it.  The 
class  for  boys,  however,  was  carried  on  for  many  years.  For 
this  work,  a school  house  was  erected  on  the  mission  grounds, 
by  funds  kindly  furnished  by  a friend.  Of  the  young  men 
first  taught,  three  were  baptized  in  the  Autumn  of  1873.  The 
class  was  never  large,  the  necessity  soon  arriving  for  giving 
much  time  to  the  instruction  of  young  men  looking  forward 
to  the  ministry,  which  precluded  the  possibility  of  the  teacher’s 
giving  sufficient  time  to  general  instruction  to  encourage 
pupils  to  enter  the  class. 

In  1874,  the  Rev.  C.  H.  H.  Wolff  and  wife  were  transferred 
to  the  mission  at  Nagasaki.  In  addition  to  time  given  to  the 
study  of  the  language,  Mr.  Wolff  gave  assistance  in  teaching 
for  about  one  year.  He  retired  from  the  mission  in  1876. 


In  the  summer  of  1874,  the  way  seemed  to 
be  fairly  open  for  taking  still  another  step  in 
advance.  A Sunday-school  and  preaching  ser- 
vice had  been  carried  on  for  some  time  in  the 


Church  Built 
and 

Organized. 


school-house,  but  all  this  was  done  rather  in  private.  A lot 
was  now  secured  and  a chapel  built  in  the  foreign  concession, 
just  at  the  entrance  to  the  native  city.  And  here  the  first 
public  proclamation  of  the  Gospel  was  made  in  the  southern 
part  of  Japan.  Crowds  were  in  attendance  from  the  first,  and 
for  two  years  there  was  little  sign  of  diminishing  interest  or 
curiosity.  Whenever  the  doors  were  opened  for  services,  the 
room  would  be  filled.  Frequently,  in  winter,  services  would 
be  continued  night  after  night  for  a week  or  more.  A 
preaching  place  was  opened  in  the  centre  of  the  city  in  1875, 
with  experiences  similar  to  those  at  the  chapel.  But  the 
abiding  results  of  all  these  efforts  were  exceedingly  small. 
The  seed  for  the  most  part  seems  to  have  fallen  by  the  way 
side.  However,  in  December,  1876,  a church  was  organized 
with  ten  adult  members  and  two  baptized  children. 


14 


The  Soeth  Japan  Mission. 


In  1878,  Kagoshima  was  occupied  as  an  out-station  with  Mr. 
A.  Segawa,  one  of  the  three  first  baptized,  in  charge.  He  was 
well  received,  and  from  the  first,  as  at  Nagasaki,  there  was  a 
remarkable  eagerness  to  hear  preaching.  The  apparent  re- 
sults were  in  the  beginning,  great,  many  coming  forward 
eagerly  asking  for  baptism.  But  the  early  promises  were  not 
realized  in  the  harvest.  The  history  of  the  work  there  indi- 
cates that  the  soil  is  fruitful  of  thorns. 

The  same  year  the  Misses  Farrington  came  out  to  establish 
the  “Jonathan  Sturges  Seminary”  for  girls.  A small  class 
then  being  taught  was  passed  over  to  them.  These  ladies, 
however,  soon  went  to  Yokohama  by  physician’s  recommen- 
dation, and  from  there  a little  later  returned  to  America 

Up  to  this  time,  the  work  of  the  missionaries  of  the  Re- 
formed Church  at  Yokohama  and  Nagasaki  had  been  carried 
on  quite  separately,  but  by  direction  of  the  Board  a meeting 
was  held  in  Yokohama  in  September,  1878,  and  “ The  Japan 
Missiou  ” was  fully  organized.  From  that  time  during  eleven 
years,  while  this  arrangement  continued,  the  branch  of  the 
mission  in  the  south  was  known  as  “ The  Nagasaki  Station.” 

In  1889,  by  action  of  the  Board,  the  Nagasaki 
Station  was  made  an  independent  mission.  It 
is  known  as  The  South  Japan  Mission  of  the 
Organized.  Reformed  Church  in  America. 

Permission  having  been  given  by  the  Board  for  Mr.  Stout 
and  family  to  return  to  America,  the}'  left  the  field  in  the 
spring  of  1879.  The  work  of  the  station  was  left  in  the  hands 
of  native  assistants.  One  man  was  in  Nagasaki  in  charge  of 
the  church,  in  which  there  were  twenty-three  members,  and 
one  in  charge  of  the  newly  established  out-station  at  Kago- 
shima. A third  man  was  sent  to  Tokyo  to  continue  his 
theological  studies. 

The  third  decade,  beginning  in  1879,  was  marked  by  the 
arrival  of  the  Rev.  E.  S.  Booth  and  wife.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stout 
returned  a year  later.  Lines  of  work  in  education  and  evan- 
gelization were  now  taken  up,  which  gave  promise  of  great 
success.  A school  for  boys  was  opened;  a class  of  five  theo- 
logical students  was  organized;  Rev.  A.  Segawa,  having  been 
lately  ordained,  was  appointed  assistant  tn  theological  in- 


The 

Mission 


The  South  Japan  Mission. 


15 


struction;  a church  was  organized  in  Kagoshima  with  twenty- 
four  members,  and  Saga  was  occupied  as  an  out-station.  But 
at  the  end  of  1881,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Booth  went  to  Yokohama, 
and  were  soon  after  appointed  to  Ferris  Seminary. 

Urgent  requests  were  now  sent  for  reinforcements,  and  in 
the  end,  the  subject  was  presented  definitely  to  the  effect  that, 
for  the  success  of  the  work,  there  must  be  schools  for  both 
boys  and  girls,  and  superintendence  of  the  evangelistic  work. 
This  plan  called  for  the  appointment  of  two  men  and  two 
single  ladies,  and  appropriations  for  school  buildings.  It  was 
further  urged  that,  if  this  could  not  be  done,  the  field  in  the 
south  be  passed  over  to  others.  The  Board  decided  to  do 
what  was  asked,  and  in  1883,  the  Rev.  N.  II.  Demarest  and 
wife  arrived,  it  being  understood  that  he  prepare  for  the 
evangelistic  work.  In  the  fol'owing  year,  the  Rev.  II.  Harris 
and  wife,  and  Miss  M.  E.  Brokaw  and  Miss  C.  B.  Richards 
arrived  under  appointment  for  the  educational  work.  Miss 
Richards  left  the  mission  a few  months  after  her  arrival  to 
become  the  wife  of  Prof.  J.  M.  Dixon,  of  the  Imperial  Uni- 
versity, and  Mr.  Harris  asked  to  be  transferred  to  Tokyo,  to 
which  place  he  moved  after  one  year’s  connection  with  the 
Nagasaki  station.  In  188G,  the  Rev.  A.  Oltmans  was  ap- 
pointed and  with  his  wife,  arrived  in  the  autumn  of  the  same 
year,  to  undertake  the  establishment  of  “Steele  Memorial 

The  buildings  for  the  two  schools  were  im- 
mediately commenced  and  completed  the  next 
summer.  The  funds  for  Sturges  Seminary  had 
been  provided  by  an  appropriation  of  $5,000  from  the 
Woman’s  Board.  This  sum  had  been  collected  by  special 
gifts  from  various  sources,  among  which  was  one  of  $3,000 
from  Mrs.  Jonathan  Sturges,  president  of  the  Woman's 
Board,  whence  the  name  of  the  institution.  The  buildings 
for  Steele  Memorial  School  were  paid  for  by  a gift  of  $5,000 
from  Dr.  William  II.  Steele,  President  of  the  Synod’s  Board, 
as  a memorial  to  his  late  son. 

The  two  schools  were  formally  opened  in  the  autumn  of 
1887,  Miss  M.  E,  Brokaw  in  charge  of  Sturges  Seminary  and 


School.” 

School 

Buildings. 


STURGES  SEMINARY. 


The  South  Japan  Mission. 


17 


Rev.  A.  Oltmans  of  Steele  Mem- 
orial School.  Both  had  been 
teaching  in  rooms  temporarily 
provided,  Miss  Brokaw  having 
succeeded  in  gathering  a small 
class  of  girls,  and  M'\  Oltmans 
in  enlarging  the  classes  being 
taught  on  his  arrival.  They 
thus  had  pupils  with  whom  to 
make  a beginning  in  the  new 
buildings. 

A short  time  after  the  opening. 

Miss  R.  L.  Irvine  arrived  under 
_ appointment  to  Stuiges  Seminary.  For  the 

8 first  two  years  this  institution  received  but 

Seminary.  limited  patronage.  In  the  spring  of  1890, 

Miss  Brokaw  asked  to  be  transferred  to  Ferris  Seminary. 
The  Board  consented  to  this,  and  soon  after  appointed 

Miss  C.  B.  Lanterman  to  take  the  place  she  left.  In  1891 
it  was  considered  desirable  to  put  both  schools  under  the 
direction  of  native  principals,  to  make  them  conform  more 
fully  to  a certain  idea  of  schools  suited  to  the  Japanese,  pecu- 
liarly prominent  at  that  time,  and  Mr.  M.  Saito,  who  had  long 
been  identified  with  Sturges  Seminary,  was  made  its  principal. 
Under  this  plan  one  of  t lie  ladies  acts  as  vice-principal  in 
charge  of  the  home  department,  and  the  mission  as  a board  of 
directors  with  ultimate  control.  The  same  year  Miss  A.  B. 
Stout  was  employed  as  teicher  of  music.  The  next  spring 
Miss  Irvine  went  to  America  on  leave  of  absence,  during 
which  her  connection  with  the  mission  was  terminated.  At 
the  close  of  the  summer  vacation,  just  as  Miss  Lanterman  was 
making  preparations  for  the  opening  of  the  fall  term,  she  was 
taken  sick,  and  died  quite  suddenly,  after  but  a few  days  of 
suffering.  Soon  after  this  Miss  S.  M.  Couch  arrived,  under 
appointment  for  Bible  work  among  women,  but  on  account  of 
the  vacancy,  she  spent  a year  in  work  in  the  Seminary. 

In  the  fall  of  the  following  year,  1893,  Miss  H.  M.  Lansing 
and  Miss  M.  E.  Duryea  arrived  on  the  field  and  relieved  Miss 


REV.  A.  OLTMANS. 


18 


The  South  Japan  Mission. 


Couch  that  she  might  continue  her  preparation  for  evangel- 
istic work.  Miss  Lansing  was  considerably  hampered  by  ill 
health  at  the  first,  but  this  having  been  overcome,  the  school 
enjoyed  steady  prosperity  under  the  continued  management  of 
these  two  ladies  and  the  Japanese  principal,  Mr.  Saito,  till  the 
summer  of  1 89G,  when  Miss  Duryea  resigned  to  become  the  wife 
of  Rev.  R.  B.  Grinnan  of  the  Southern  Presbyterian  Mission. 

Miss  Stout’s  connection  with  the  school  as  music  teacher 
terminated  on  her  return  to  America  with  her  parents  in  1894. 
Since  that  time  the  musical  instruction  has  been  in  the  hands 
of  Miss  Asada,  now  Mrs.  Suyehiro,  a Chinese  by  birth,  a 
Japanese  by  training,  and  a European  by  association.  There 
was  some  friction  at  first,  but  after  that  subsided,  she  was 
able  to  give  very  satisfactory  service.  The  experiment  has 
taught  us  that,  thanks  to  the  very  efficient  instruction  in 
music  in  its  higher  grades,  given  in  certain  mission  schools 
contemplating  that  kind  of  work,  we  need  no  longer  employ 
our  foreign  workers  in  these  technical  lines,  but  can  leave 
them  free  to  devote  themselves  more  exclusively  to  religious 
and  spiritual  instruction. 

During  189G-7,  Miss  Lansing  labored  alone  in  the  school, 
receiving,  however,  assistance  in  teaching  from  Mrs.  Pieters 
and  Mrs.  Davis,  and  also  from  Miss  Couch,  who,  while  partly 
engaged  in,  and  partly  preparing  for,  evangelistic  work,  has 
made  her  home  in  the  school  since  1895.  Miss  Couch's  assist- 
ance was  mainly  along  the  line  of  religious  instruction  in  the 
vernacular,  and  has  given  much  satisfaction.  Her  experience 
in  this  matter  has  confirmed  us  in  the  opinion  that  missionary 
workers  in  schools  for  girls  should  invariably  be  women  who 
can  use  the  native  language,  and  that  religious  instruction 
should  be  mainly,  if  not  entirely  in  the  hands  of  such,  rather 
than  in  the  hands  of  Japanese. 

In  the  fall  of  1897,  Miss  A.  Iv.  Stryker  was  appointed  to  the 
girls’  school,  and  was  associated  with  Miss  Lansing.  A year 
later,  Miss  A.  B.  Stout  returning  as  an  assistant  missionary, 
Miss  Lansing  was  relieved  from  teaching  in  order  to  prepare 
for  evangelistic  work;  so  at  present  the  Misses  Stryker  and 
Stout  are  the  foreign  force  laboring  with  Mr.  Saito.  The 
condition  of  the  school  is  not  all  that  we  should  like.  It 


The  South  Japan  Mission. 


19 


would  be  a pity  if  it  were,  for  it,  would  indicate  inability  on 
the  part  of  those  most  interested  to  change  their  old  ideals  for 
better  ones.  The  number  of  pupils  runs  at  thirty  odd  boarders 
and  about  an  equal  number  of  day  pupils.  We  could  ac- 
commodate about  ten  more  of  each,  but  might  perhaps  do  no 
better  work  We  are  greatly  pleased  that  the  religious  and 
spiritual  life  of  the  school  is  on  a better  basis  than  formerly, 
though  we  are  by  no  means  satisfied  with  present  attainments 
in  this  line.  It  is  only  fair  to  say  that  our  plan  of  having  a 
Japanese  principal,  while  working  very  unsatisfactorily  in  the 
school  for  boys,  has  given,  on  the  whole,  good  satisfaction  in 
the  seminary  for  girls.  This  is  due,  no  doubt,  largely  to  the 
character  of  the  principal  Mr.  Saito. 

Steele  Steele  Memorial  School  was  organized  into 

two  departments,  theological  and  academic,  the 
College.  teachers  giving  instruction  in  both  departments 
as  necessity  required.  Mr.  Oilmans  conducted  the  school 
for  the  first  three  years  after  its  formal  opening  in  the  new 
buildings.  Then  for  a year  Mr.  H.  Y.  S.  Peeke,  who  had 
been  sent  out  as  a teacher  for  a limited  term,  and  had 
already  taught  in  the  school  for  two  years,  was  placed  in 
charge.  In  accordance  with  the  plan  for  putting  the  schools 
under  the  direction  of  natives,  upon  the  expiration  of 
Mr.  Peeke’s  term  in  1891,  the  Rev.  M.  Oligimi  was  made 
principal  in  1891.  The  same  year,  the  Rev.  A.  Pieters  was 
appointed  teacher,  and  with  his  wife  arrived  in  time  for  the 
opening  of  the  fall  term.  In  the  following  year,  the  name  of 
the  institution  was  changed  to  that  of  “ Steele  College.” 

The  period  of  1890-97  may  quite  properly  be  referred  to  as  one 
of  great  reaction  in  missionary  operations  in  Japan.  This  was 
felt  in  every  line  of  work,  but  was  no  where  more  manifest 
than  in  the  schools.  Add  to  this  the  fact,  that,  even  granting 
that  the  plan  of  a native  principal  was  a good  one,  Mr.  Oligimi 
was  not  so  well  adapted  for  his  responsible  position  as  we  had 
hoped,  and  it  will  not  seem  so  strange  that  our  school  dwindled 
in  numbers  and  weakened  in  influence  till  in  June,  1896,  there 
were  but  thirty-five  in  the  Academic  Department.  At  this 
juncture  Mr.  Oligimi  resigned,  Mr.  Pieters  assumed  the  prin- 
cipalship,  and  Mr.  A.  A.  Davis,  who  had  come  to  Japan  some 


STEELE  COLLEGE. 


The  South  Japan  Mission. 


21 


years  before  in  connection 
with  the  International  Com- 
mittee of  Y.  M.  C.  A.’s, 
and  had  had  considerable 
experience  in  teaching  Jap- 
anese youth  was  employed 
to  assist,  especially  in  teach- 
ing the  English  language. 

The  school  immediately  felt 
the  effect  of  these  and  other 
changes,  and  a year  later 
there  were  eighty-seven  pu- 
pils. There  have  been  downs 
as  well  as  ups,  for  though 
there  seems  to  be  a general  interest  in  religion  throughout 
the  country,  the  attendance  at  the  college  has  not  been  as 
large  as  we  desired. 

There  has  been  much  improvement  in  the  quality  of  the 
teachers,  most  of  whom  are  now  devoted  Christians,  and  our 
religious  instruction  ii  on  a far  better  basis.  It  is  true,  too, 
that  the  Christians  in  the  country  begin  to  appreciate  the 
difference  between  a purely  secular  education,  and  one  based 
on  God’s  truth,  though  the  unfair  rulings  of  the  Government 
make  it  possible  to  avail  themselves  of  the  advantages  of  our 
schools  only  at  a considerable  loss.  So,  on  the  whole,  we  feel 
encouraged  to  go  on  in  our  effort  to  hold  up  the  banner  of 
Christian  education  in  this  land. 

Mr.  Davis  resigned  in  June,  1898,  and  Mr.  Pieters  worked 
in  the  Academical  Department  till  the  close  of  the  year.  Since 
then  he  has  enjoyed  the  assistance  of  Dr.  Stout.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  i 899  Mr.  Pieters  was  relieved  from  school  duties  to 
engage  in  evangelistic  work,  and  Dr.  Stout  took  charge  of  the 
school,  assisted  in  English  instruction  by  the  Rev.  C.  M. 
Myers,  who  has  been  appointed  by  the  Board  for  that  purpose. 

Twenty-seven  men  have  graduated  since  the  school  was 
e^ablished,  about  a third  of  whom  continued  their  studies  in 
the  Theological  Department. 

During  1898-9  an  interesting  experiment  in  the  line  of  an 
Industrial  Department  was  conducted  by  Mr.  Pieters,  mainly 


REV.  A.  PIETERS. 


22 


The  South  .Japan  Mission. 


at  his  own  expense.  A good 
hand  laundry  was  equipped, 
and  a number  of  students  de- 
frayed a part  of  their  school 
expenses  by  their  labor  in 
connection  therewith.  Unex- 
pected competition  has  hin- 
dered this  from  becoming  the 
financial  success  that  had 
been  hoped,  but  it  demon- 
stated  clearly  that  there  are 
youths  of  Japan’s  student 
class  who  have  at  least  learned 
that  manual  labor  is  not  a 
thing  to  be  despised,  and  it  seems  probable  that  by  judiciously 
using  and  fostering  a plan  of  this  kind,  it  will  be  compara- 
tively easy  to  avoid  assisting  unworthy  men  to  an  education. 

On  July  17,  1899,  Japan’s  new  treaties  came  into  effect,  and 
“ extraterritoriality  ” was  abolished.  It  is  not  expected  that 
this  change  will  greatly  affect  evangelistic  work  in  Japan;  but 
no  one  now  (September,  1899),  seems  to  feel  competent  to  even 
guess  what  the  effect  will  be  on  educational  work,  though 
the  opinion  prevails  that  it  will  be  radical  one  way  or  the 
other 

. . . The  work  of  the  Theological  Department  can 

be  best  treated  in  a separate  paragraph.  The 
Department.  justr uetion  has  been  mainly  in  the  hands  of 
Rev.  H.  Stout,  D.D.,  and  Rev.  A.  Segawa.  They  enjoyed 
the  assistance  of  Rev.  II.  Aoyama,  commissioned  by  the 
Northern  Presbyterian  Mission,  during  a considerable  period, 
and  that  of  Rev.  R.  B.  Grinnan,  of  the  Southern  Pres- 
byterian Mission,  during  Dr.  Stout’s  absence  from  the  field  in 
1895-7.  Students  have  been  gathered  from  our  own  field, 
Ivyu  Shu,  and  from  the  main  island,  as  far  north  as  Nagoya. 
For  a number  of  years  we  enjoyed  the  sympathetic  co-opera- 
tion of  both  the  Northern  and  Southern  Presbyterian  Missions. 
The  high-water  mark  of  attendance  was  reached  in  1894, 
when  twenty -four  students  were  enrolled.  Some  of  these  men 
are  now  our  most  trusted  workers;  others  are  working  faith- 


REV  Cli AS.  M.  MYERS. 


Tiie  South  Japan  Mission. 


23 


fully  in  connection  with  other  missions.  Some,  alas,  having 
laid  their  hand  to  the  plough,  have  looked  back,  others  have 
back-slidden,  and  still  others  have  given  reason  to  suspect 
that  they  never  had  the  root  of  the  matter  in  them.  Still,  a 
good  proportion  of  them  are  to-day  co-workers  of  whom  we 
may  well  be  proud. 

During  Dr.  Stout’s  absence  from  the  field,  great  economic 
changes  following  the  Japan-China  war,  and  the  rapid  devel- 
opment of  Japan’s  railroad  communications,  have  greatly 
affected  this  work,  so  that  since  June,  1897,  practically  no 
candidates  for  the  ministry  having  presented  themselves,  the 
department  has  been  in  suspension.  It  is  extremely  difficult 
to  say  what  the  future  has  in  store.  It  is  the  purpose  of  the 
Board,  however,  to  reopen  the  department  the  moment  cir- 
cumstances make  it  feasible.  In  connection  with  the  earlier 
theological  instruction,  and  that  given  as  a department  of 
Steele  College,  upwards  of  forty  men  have  been  trained  for 
work  in  the  Master’s  vineyard. 

As  to  evangelization  proper,  it  has  been  a 
constant  cause  for  regret  that  this  most  im- 
portant branch  of  work  was,  of  necessity,  during 
the  early  years  of  the  mission’s  history,  left  almost  entirely 
in  the  hands  of  native  evangelists.  Mr.  Demarest  was  the 
first  specially  appointed  to  this  work,  joining  the  mission 
in  1883,  and  spending  some  years  in  language  study,  but  soon 
after  he  was  able  to  make  a beginning  on  the  field,  he  was 
obliged  to  go  to  America  with  his  family,  on  account  of  Mrs. 
Demarest’s  health.  A few  months  after  his  return  to  Japan 
he  was  obliged  to  leave  a second  time,  and  finally,  for  the 
same  reason.  Mr.  Oltmans  thereupon  resigned  his  position  in 
the  school,  by  special  request  of  the  mission,  to  take  up  the 
work  thus  left,  but  after  two  years,  spent  partly  in  study  of 
the  language  and  partly  in  the  work,  he  went  wutli  his  family 
to  America  on  regular  furlough. 

However,  he  returned  in  the  fall  of  1894,  and  having 
already  acquired  the  language,  has  since  been  able  to  give 
himself  exclusively  to  evangelistic  work.  Thus,  in  1894,  for 
the  first  time  since  the  arrival  of  Dr.  Verbeck  in  1859,  the  mis- 
sion had  a man,  equipped  in  the  language,  devoted  solely  to 


Evangelistic 
Work. 


24 


Tiie  South  Japan  Mission. 


going  about  over  the  island  warn- 
ing sinners,  teaching  enquirers, 
instructing  and  comforting  the 
saints,  besides  giving  the  native 
evangelists  the  encouragement 
and  assistance  they  so  much  need 
Miss  Couch  was  relieved  from 
her  school  duties  in  the  fall  of 
1893,  and  labored  earnestly  to 
gain  facility  in  the  use  of  the 
language.  Since  1897  she  has  re- 
peatedly toured  the  Northern 
and  Southern  fields  with  increas- 
ing effectiveness. 

Mr.  Peeke  rejoined  the  work  in  1893,  this  time  married  and 
a regularly  appointed  missionary.  Since  1896  he,  too,  has 
been  touring  and  preaching  as  well  as  his  progress  in  the 
knowledge  of  the  language  at-  the  time  would  allow.  In  1898 
Miss  Lansing  was  transferred  to  the  evangelistic  work,  and 
began  studying  the  language  with  a will. 

In  1899,  Mr.  Pieters  also  took  up  this  branch  of  the  work, 
and  with  the  knowledge  of  the  language  already  acquired 
while  working  along  educational  lines,  will  soon  be  laboring 
effectively. 

To  be  sure,  at  this  writing,  Mr.  Peeke  is  home  on  health 
leave,  and  Miss  Couch  on  regular  furlough,  but  such  experi- 
ences are,  in  a sense,  normal,  and  we  cannot  but  feel  that  the 
evangelistic  branch  of  our  work  is  gradually  assuming  en- 
couraging strength  as  far  as  the  equipment  of  foreigners  is 
concerned. 

In  September,  1893,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peeke  opened  our  first 
interior  station,  at  Kagoshima.  In  1895  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Olt- 
mans  took  up  their  residence  at  Saga.  Miss  Couch  spent  a 
year,  1895-6,  in  Saga,  and  Miss  Lansing  began  to  reside  in 
Kagoshima  in  1898.  It  is  not  necessary  to  dwell  upon  the 
advantages  accruing  to  the  work  from  the  residence  of  a mis- 
sionary away  from  the  open  port  and  in  the  midst  of  his  field 
of  labor.  On  July  17th,  1899,  the  last  restriction  to  free 
residence  and  travel  in  the  interior  was  removed.  It  is  hoped 


REV.  H.  S.  PEEKE. 


Tiip:  South  Japan  Mission. 


that  ere  long  we  may  also  have  a family  residence  in  some 
portion  of  the  north-eastern  field,  say  at  Hiji  or  Usa. 

In  connection  with  evangelistic  work  Miss  Couch  has,  since 
1895,  had  a number  of  women,  three  or  four,  associated  with 
her  and  receiving  such  Biblical  instruction  as  will  make  them 
more  useful  women,-  either  simply  as  members  of  churches,  or 
as  assistants  to  foreign  workers. 

Mr.  Oilmans  has  made  it  a point  to  gather  in  his  city  once 
a year  the  evangelists  in  the  employ  of  the  mission,  and  has 
endeavored  during  about  ten  days,  to  increase  their  Biblical 
knowledge  and  raise  their  spiritual  tone.  Especial  emphasis 
has  been  laid  on  this  since  the  suspension  of  theological  in- 
struction in  1897.  Evangelists  working  in  connection  with 
other  missions  having  also  esteemed  it  a privilege  to  be  present, 
the  attendance  has  on  some  occasions  risen  to  thirty  or  more. 

The  last  few  years  have  seen  considerable  change  in  the 
force  of  native  evangelists  working  with  us.  A number  have 
died,  some  have  resigned  and  gone  into  other  business  or  the 
employ  of  other  missionaries,  some  have  been  dismissed.  As 
none  have  been  graduated  from  our  school  in  two  years  (since 
1897).  the  number  of  our  helpers  has  lessened  considerably, 
but  the  men  left  are  growing  in  experience,  and  a number  of 
them  are  especially  well  instructed,  well  seasoned  workers. 
The  high  prices  obtaining  after  the  Japan-China  war,  caused 
much  real  suffering  amongst  them,  but  there  was  little  com- 
plaint, and  much  genuine  consecration  was  shown. 

From  1893  to  1895  there  was  a strong  anti-foreign  feeling, 
and  interest  in  spiritual  matters  declined  to  a very  low  ebb, 
but  with  the  close  of  the  Japan-China  war,  this  antipathy  sub- 
sided. Interest  in  religious  matters  once  more  began  to  assert 
itself.  Before  the  war  Christianity  was  everywhere  known  as 
that  wicked  religion,  after  the  war  those  bold  enough  to  call 
it  bad  were  few.  More  and  more  of  the  people  were  ready  to 
call  it  good, — though  for  others.  Christian  workers  are  uni- 
formly treated  with  courtesy,  and  boisterous  interruption  of 
meetings  seems  to  have  quite  ceased.  It  has  certainly  been  a 
great  opportunity  for  the  quiet  spread  of  the  Gospel.  It  is 
noteworthy  that  of  late  less  stress  has  been  laid  by  evangelists 
on  the  large  public  meetings,  once  so  prominent,  and  more 
on  quiet  talks  with  individuals  or  small  groups. 


EVANGELISTS’  BIBLE  SCHOOL,  SAGA. 


The  South  Japan  Mission. 


Growth 
T oward 


During  the  last  few  years  much  discussion 
has  ranged  about  the  question  of  self-support 
and  the  relation  of  the  missionaries  to  the  native 
Self-support.  cjlurc]1  organization.  Without  going  into  a 
special  consideration  of  these  questions,  we  may  say  that 
the  native  Christians  have  been  gradually  collecting  more 
and  more  money,  and  while  in  our  field  we  have  no  church 
that  can  be  called  really  self-supporting,  the  Nagasaki  church 
approximates  it  closely.  Native  Christians  are  beginning  to 
realize  that  contribution  to  local  expenses  is  a reasonable 
service  and  duty.  The  influence  of  the  Synod,  classes  and 
church  papers,  too,  is  strongly  this  way. 

Within  a few  years  a new  church  building  has  been  erected 
at  Sasebo,  and  the  Kagoshima  church  has  been  moved  and 
repaired.  In  the  former  case  the  native  Christians  raised 
over  half  of  a total  of  about  $200.00,  and  in  the  latter,  two- 
thirds  of  a total  of  $75.00.  Many  expenses  that  it  was  for- 
merly assumed  the  mission  would  pay,  are  now  never  re- 
ferred to  the  mission  at  all. 

In  earlier  years,  while  the  native  church  was  still  in 
swaddling  clothes,  the  missions,  of  necessity,  did  all  the 
thinking  and  planning  for  it.  With  the  growth  and  develop- 
ment of  the  church,  it  has  begun  to  assume  its  own  responsi- 
bilities, and  discharge  its  own  proper  functions.  This  is 
naturally  a time  when  difficult  questions  arise,  and  friction 
often  develops.  In  this  field  we  have  been  singularly  free 
from  difficulties  of  this  order.  The  mission  cares  for  nothing 
more  than  an  advisory  relation,  in  matters  purely  ecclesias- 
tical, and  this  the  native  church  freely  accords,  while  in  mat- 
ters pertaining  to  our  educational  work  or  evangelism  pure 
and  simple,  we  have  constantly  enjoyed  the  sympathetic  co- 
operation of  the  brethren  of  the  native  church  organization. 

A word  in  regard  to  our  field.  By  consulting 
The  Field.  the  map  on  next  page,  it  will  be  seen  that  we 
are  laboring  for  the  large  island  of  Kyu  Shu 
and  the  adjacent  smaller  islands.  These  latter  are  the  Goto 
group,  Tsushima,  Kojikijima,  O-shima  and  still  others. 
Their  inhabitants  number  many  tens  of  thousands,  but  no 
Protestant  work  is  even  attempted  on  them.  The  large 


The  South  Japan  Mission. 


29 


island  of  Ivyu  Sliu,  with  its  6,000,000  inhabitants,  is  readily 
divided  by  parallels  of  latitude  and  longitude  into  live  fields, 
a north-east,  a north-west,  an  east-central,  a west-central  and 
a southern.  The  natural  divisions  made  by  rivers  and 
mountains  correspond. 

There  are  a number  of  missionary  societies  laboring  in  the 
island,  but  the  ground  is  far  from  covered.  Our  own  work 
lies  in  the  north-east  and  north-west,  superintended  mainly  by 
Mr.  Oltmans  from  Saga,  and  in  the  part  lying  south  of  parallel 
32  degrees,  superintended  by  Mr.  Peeke,  residing  in  Kago- 
shima. We  have  no  work  in  the  exceedingly  populous  section 
of  which  Kumamoto  is  the  center,  nor  in  the  rather  sparsely 
settled  east-central  section.  In  each  of  these  parts  there  is 
upward  of  a million  inhabitants,  and  the  knowledge  of  the 
Gospel  which  the  people  have  will  correspond  well  with  the 
knowledge  of  the  nebular  hypothesis  possessed  by  the  masses 
in  America. 

While  our  hearts  ache  to  think  what  an  ignorance  of  God’s 
truth  means  for  any  people,  only  those  conversant  with  the 
Japanese  can  estimate  what  difficulties  are  involved  in  their 
spiritual  regeneration.  And  yet  it  is  to  forward  no  less  a work 
than  this  that  God  lias  called  his  people,  and  our  possibilities 
of  achievement  are  limited  only  by  our  purpose  and  ability  to 
let  God’s  mighty  power  work  through  us. 

Following  is  a summary  for  September,  1899: 

MISSIONARIES. 

Rev.  Henry  Stout,  D.D.,  and  wife,  Rev.  A.  Oltmans  and 
wife,  Rev.  A.  Pieters  and  wife,  Miss  S.  M.  Couch  (in  America), 
Rev.  H.  V.  S.  Peeke  and  wife  (in  America),  Miss  H.  M.  Lansing, 
Miss  A.  K.  Stryker,  Miss  A.  B.  Stout,  and  Rev.  C.  M Myers. 

STUIIGES  SEMINARY. 

Mr  M.  Saito,  principal;  Miss  A.  K.  Stryker,  vice-principal, 
in  charge  of  home  department;  Miss  A B.  Stout,  teacher  of 
English  branches;  five  native  teachers  engaged  on  full  time, 
and  three  for  special  lessons;  sixty  pupils,  thirty-three  being 


MISSIONARY’S  RESIDENCE,  KAGOSHIMA 


The  South  Japan  Mission. 


31 


boarders;  ten  pupils  members  of  the  church  in  full  commu- 
nion, and  two  others  baptized  in  infancy. 

STEELE  COLLEGE. 

Rev.  H.  Stout,  D.D.,  acting  principal;  Rev.  G.  M.  Myers, 
and  five  native  teachers  engaged  on  full  time,  and  three  others 
for  special  lectures;  ninety-three  pupils  on  the  roll,  five  in  the 
academic  department  members  of  the  church;  about  half  of 
the  pupils  hoarders;  twenty-seven  graduates  from  the  acade- 
mic department  and  twenty-five  from  the  theological  depart- 
ment. 


EVANGELISTIC  WORK. 

Rev.  A.  Oltmans,  Miss  S.  M.  Couch  (in  America),  Rev.  H. 
V.  S.  Peeke  (in  America),  Miss  H.  M.  Lansing;  seventeen 
evangelists,  three  ordained;  beside  Nagasaki,  Kagoshima  and 
Saga,  fourteen  out-stations  with  resident  evangelists,  about 
twenty  other  places  where  work  is  done  regularly  by  the 
evangelists;  four  organized  churches,  three'hundred  and  two 
adult  church  members  and  one  hundred  and  six  baptized 
children;  two  hundred  and  sixty-one  Sunday-school  pupils; 
contributions  for  1898,  yen  723,02,  the  equivalent  of  361.51 
dollars  United  States  gold. 

PUBLICATION. 

By  Rev.  H.  Stout:  “A  Brief  Statement  of  Christian  Doc- 
trine/’a translation  and  adaptation  of  Dr.  S M.  Woodhridge's 
“ Lectures  on  Sacred  History,”  1 vol.,  and  of  his  “Lectures 
on  Church  History,”  2 vols. 

By  Rev.  A.  Segawa:  “ A Commentary  on  the  First  Fifty 
Psalms,”  a translation  by  Dr.  S.  M.  Woodhridge's  “ Analysis 
of  Systematic  Theology,”  two  editions;  of  Dr.  W.  G.  T. 
Shedd's  “Homiletics;”  and  of  Dr.  J.  L.  Hurlbut’s  “Biblical 
Geography.” 

By  Rev.  A.  Pieters;  “ An  Introduction  to  the  Study  of  the 
English  Language.” 


32 


Tiie  South  Japan  Mission. 


LIST  OF  MISSIONARIES. 


Arrived. 

Retired 

Rev.  G.  F.  Verbeck*  and  Mrs.  Verbeck 

1859 

1869 

Rev.  Henry  Stout  and  Mrs.  Stout, 

1869 

Rev.  C.  H.  II.  Wolff  and  Mrs  Wolff, 

1874 

la76 

Miss  E.  F.  Farrington,  

1878 

1879 

Miss  M.  J.  Farrington, 

“ 

“ 

Rev.  E.  S.  Booth  and  Mrs.  Booth, 

1879 

1881 

Rev.  N.  H.  Demarest  and  Mrs.  Demarest,  . 

1883 

1890 

Rev  II.  Harris  and  Mrs.  Harris, 

1884 

1885 

Miss  C.  B.  Richards,  ...... 

“ 

“ 

Miss  M.  E.  Brokaw,  . , . . . 

“ 

1890 

Rev.  A Oilmans  and  Mrs  Oltmans, 

1886 

Mrs  R.  L.  Irvine,  

1887 

1893 

Miss  C.  B.  Lanterman,* 

1890 

1892 

Rev.  A.  Pieters  and  Mrs.  Pieters, 

1891 

Miss  S.  M.  Couch 

1892 

Rev.  II.  V.  S.  Peeke  and  Mrs.  Peeke, 

1893 

Miss  II.  M.  Lansing,  

Miss  M.  E.  Duryea, 

•' 

1897 

Miss  A.  B Stout,  . . . 

1898 

Rev.  C.  M.  Myers.  . .... 

1899 

TEACHERS  EMPLOYED. 

Mr.  H.V.S  Peeke,  

1888 

1892 

Miss  A.  B.  Stour,  ...... 

1891 

1895 

Mr.  A.  A.  Davis,  

1896 

1898 

♦Deceased. 


Insert  above  in  proper  place. 

Miss  Anna  K.  Stryker 1897 


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